Tack receptacle and dispenser



Nov. 22, 1966 R. TRENKAMP 3,286,821

TACK RECEPTACLE AND DISPENSER Filed 001:. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 3 25 A Z IILX IX IX IJAIIA IAIIAII:

Rosemary Fen/ramp IN V E N TOR.

BY m

M -Mzm Nov. 22, 1966 R. TRENKAMP 3,286,821

TACK RECEPIACLE AND DISPENSER Filed Oct. 26, 1964 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Rosemary Trenkamp INVENTOR.

BY M

United States Patent 3,286,821 TACK RECEPTACLE AND DISPENSER Rosemary Trenkamp, 102 Center Road, Page Park, Fort Myers, Fla. Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,484 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-1) The present invention is broadly concerned with tack holders and more specifically involves a unique combination tack holder, separator and dispenser.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a device wherein a plurality of tacks or small nails from a contained supply can be quickly separated and positioned for instantaneous access thereto by, in most cases, the driving head of a magnetic hammer.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to arrange the tacks with the head thereof uppermost so as to enable an immediate driving of an individual tack upon being lifted from the device by magneti attachment to a magnetized hammer.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide for a segregating of the individual nails from each other in a manner so as to avoid the removal of more than one nail at a time.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a device wherein, upon the removal of all of the initially segregated tacks, an additional supply of tacks can be immediately segregated without any initial adjustment of the device.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide for a supply container wherein the amount of tacks remaining therein can be immediately ascertained.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device which, while simple in construction, effectively performs its function in a troublefree manner requiring only a few simple manipulative steps which may be done in a matter of seconds.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 22 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane passing along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate steps involved in the segregating of the tacks for the subsequent individual removal thereof.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the combined holder and dispenser of the instant invention. This device 10 is in the form of a fiat rectangular container preferably constructed of a clear rigid plastic material whereby the contents thereof can be readily observed in order that the user of the device he at all times aware of the amount of tacks or nails remining therein.

Basically, the rectangular box or receptacle 10 includes an enlarged fiat rectangular back panel 12, two end panels 14 and 16 projecting perpendicularly from the ends of the back panel or wall 12, and two side panels or Walls 18 and 20 projecting perpendicularly from the sides of the back wall 12 with the panels 14, 16, 18 and 20 forming a continuous peripheral wall. In addition, a flat rectangular partial front wall 22 is provided so as to form, in conjunction with the end panel 14, side panels 18 and 20, and

3,286,821 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 back wall 12, a chamber 24 at one end of the device 10. All of the above-mentioned panels and walls are rigidy interlocked in any suitable manner, or in fact may be integrally formed. Completing the front wall and closing the enlarged lateral opening is a flat rectangular panel 26 abutting, along one edge thereof, the free edge 28 of the partial front wall 22 and freely resting on recessed shoulders 30 provided on the end wall 16 and the adjoining portions of the side walls 18 and 20. In order to facilitate the removal of the removable panel 26, it will be noted that a finger notch 32 has been provided centrally within the top edge of the end wall 16.

The removable panel 26 includes a plurality of apertures or holes 34 therethrough, these holes 34, of a size so as to receive the shanks of conventional tacks and small nails, being preferably arranged in parallel rows with'the holes 34 in every other row being in lateral alignment with each other while offset from the holes in the adjacent rows. While as noted supra, the holes 34 are of a size so as to allow for the passage of shanks of conventional tacks or nails therethrough, it should be recognized that such holes will, at the same time, be so small as to preclude passage of the heads of the tacks or nails in order that the tacks or nails might be suspended thereby in a manner which shall be gone into presently. Surrounding each of the holes or apertures 34, on both faces of the removable panel 26, is, in each instance, a conical recess or depression 36 which, in addition to quickly guiding the shank of a tack through the hole 34, also provides a recessed individual seat for the tack head, thereby also greatly simplifying the removal of that individual tack by a magnetized hammer head as generally indicated in FIGURE 6, reference numeral 38 referring to the hammer head.

In use, a supply of tacks or small nails, or in fact a combination thereof, is placed in the receptacle or box 10. The removable cover or panel 26 is positioned on the supporting shoulders 30 and, holding the removable panel 26 in position, the receptacle 10 is inverted as shown in FIGURE 4. In this position, the receptacle 10 is agitated so as to cause a movement of the tacks therein with the shanks of a substantial number of the tacks being guided by the concave recessed portions 36 through the apertures 34 so as to project beyond the panel 26. At this point, referring to FIGURE 5, the box 10 is tilted or moved so as to allow for the excess tacks therein to fall or gravitate to the chamber 24 at one end thereof while the remainder of the tacks are retained within the holes 34. Next, the removable panel or lid 26 is carefully removed, inverted and replaced on the box 10 in the manner shown in FIGURE 6 with the tack or nail heads being exposed while the shanks thereof project into the interior of the box 10. The box 10 is then positioned on any suitable surface and the segregated or separated tacks can be individually removed at the convenience of the user by merely, for example, bringing the magnetized head of a hammer in contact with any one of the exposed tack heads. Upon an exhausting of the segregated tacks, a repetition of the above steps will immediately replenish the supply. It will be recognized that the necessity of returning the panel 26 to its original position is eliminated by the provision of the segregating and guiding recess 36 on both faces of the panel 26.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated a highly novel combined holder and dispenser has been defined which enables the containing of tacks or small nails while at the same time provides for the individual positioning or separating of a plurality of these tacks or nails for convenient access thereto by, in most instances, a magnetized hammer head. Incidentally, it will be appreciated that the segregated tacks are maintained separately from the main supply of tacks with the main supply of tacks being completely contained within the receptacle or box.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. Incidentally, with regard to Further, since numerous the claimed invention, it should be appreciated that the portion and a removable and reversible wall portion, said u partial Wall portion, in conjunction with the peripheral side wall and the back wall, defining a chamber at one end of the receptacle, said removable wall portion having a plurality of holes therein, each hole being of a size so as to receive the shank portion of a driven fastener therethrough while preventing passage of .the fastener head, whereby, upon a shaking of the receptable with a supply of driven fasteners therein, a plurality of fasteners Will be received within the .holes in a manner so as to allow a reversal of the removable wall portionso as to expose the heads and allow a dispensing of the individual fasteners.

2. The structure of claim 1 including a fastener'guiding depression surrounding each hole on each side of the removable wall portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,146 4/ 1898 Songer 227---156' 1,187,566 6/1916 Taylor 206-17 2,134,367 10/1938 Hudiakolf.

2,475,450 7/ 1949 Dvorak 2061' X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

MARTHA L. RICE, Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER AND DISPENSER FOR DRIVEN FASTENERS HAVING ELONGATED SHANKS AND ENLARGED HEADS AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID HOLDER AND DISPENSER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A BACK WALL, A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL AND A FRONT WALL CONSISTING OF AN IMPERFORATE PARTIAL WALL PORTION AND A REMOVABLE AND REVERSIBLE WALL PORTION, SAID PARTIAL WALL PORTION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL AND THE BACK WALL, DEFINING A CHAMBER AT ONE END OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID REMOVABLE WALL PORTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES THEREIN, EACH HOLE BEING OF A SIZE SO AS TO RECEIVE THE SHANK PORTION OF A DRIVEN FASTENER THERETHROUGH WHILE PREVENTING PASSAGE OF THE FASTENER HEAD, WHEREBY, UPON A SHAKING OF THE RECEPTABLE WITH A SUPPLY OF DRIVEN FASTENERS THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF FASTENERS WILL BE RECEIVED WITHIN THE HOLES IN A MANNER SO AS TO 